MONTREAL -- Ekaterina Gutierrez, a freshman forward from Montreal, made her first career goal a memorable one as the McGill women's soccer officially opened their preseason schedule with a come-from-behind victory. The speedy, 5-foot-2 striker snapped a 1-1 saw-off with the game-winner in the 80th minute as McGill rallied for a 2-1 decision over visiting Acadia in the preseason opener at Percival Molson Stadium, Thursday.

It was the first official exhibition game for the Martlets, who scrimmaged against Carleton and Ottawa last weekend. McGill is coming off a 7-4-3 third-place finish in the RSEQ conference last season.

The result was the second straight exhibition setback for the defending Atlantic conference champion Axewomen, who went 7-3-2 last year and opened their two-game road-trip to Quebec with a 2-0 loss at Laval on Wednesday.

Alli Kelly, a junior forward from Halifax, opened the scoring for Acadia in the 20th minute of play. But the Martlets bounced back with a pair of second half markers for the win.

Midfielder Elisabeth Pronovost, a 19-year-old science freshman from Chambly, Que., scored the equalizer in the 55th minute, setting the stage for Gutierrez's heroics.

Starting between the pipes for McGill was Sophie Guilmette, a first-year kinesiology major who transferred after graduating from Vanderbilt in the NCAA. Although shots on net were not available, the 5-foot-6 goalkeeper was beaten only once but had no decision after 65 minutes of play.

She was replaced for the final 25 minutes by Bria LaBella, a 19-year-old philosophy sophomore from Albany, N.Y., who dulled the Axewomen offence, conceding no goals and collecting the win for the home team.

Sophomore Milena Ramirez, a native of New Minas, N.S.,  started in the Acadia net and blanked the Martlets during her 45 minutes of work. Isabella Barbieri, a junior from Toronto, was beaten twice in the second half and  credited with the loss.

Acadia will play one more exhibition game before beginning defence of their AUS title. They will host Dalhousie on Aug. 29 at 12 noon (Atlantic).

McGill now turns their focus on preparations for the RSEQ league opener on Aug. 31, when the UQAM Citadins will visit Molson Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff. That will be the first game of a soccer doubleheader, followed by the men's game at 8:15 p.m.

SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
514-398-7012 (Tel.)
www.mcgillathletics.ca
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca